(Feb 2009) The Quinnipiac University poll puts Dodd's approval rating at 41 percent with a 48 percent disapproval rating marking his worst approval rating in the history of the Quinnipiac poll. By a 54-24 margin, voters surveyed say they aren't satisfied with Dodd's explanation of the loans and 51 percent of say they "probably won't" or "definitely won't" vote for him. These terrible numbers come after a steady drumbeat of critical editorials in Connecticut newspapers.

McMahon has launched a new ad reminding voters of exactly why they were prepared to toss Dodd out of the Senate before he beat them to the punch with a surprise retirement announcement. By raising the specter of the Countrywide mortgage scandal, McMahon's campaign is tying her current opponent to his corrupt ally and predecessor and implicitly making the case for a clean break: